Picture and frame construction



July 5,1932. COMES 1,865,888

PICTURE AND FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed June 11, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet i A5 /4 7 /J; i

i 32 22 29/ 77 Q5 73 2/ 32 F .1

/y //0 2/2 L5; a g-p-g Z2 .4/ 2/ 32 Inventor T] 7 Coaies flllamey July 5, 1932. co s 1,865,888

PICTURE AND FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed June 11. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor /2/ T7. 7 C oaz es flliomey Patented July 5, 1932 i I UNITED STATES JOHN rxooA-rEs, or MIAMI, FLORIDA rrorunr: AND FRAME cons'rn'uc'rron Application filed June 11,

This invention relatesto an improved composite picture and'frame construction wherein the structural parts are "especially selected p and organized to provide a novel frame embodying certain concealed features allowing expeditious application and removal of, the picture unit, whereby to allow convenient exchange of pictures from time to time.

The invention is believed to be a successful I and practical contribution to the prior art, and is so regarded because of ornamental and utilitarian features embodied therein.

structurally and specifically stated, the arrangement is individualized by three distinguishable parts; namely, an especially constructed laminated ornamental frame, a removable sectional picture unit co-operable with the frame, and an unusual ornamental retaining panel releasably engageable with predetermined portions of the frame and constructed to function as a detachable keeper for the picture unit when the latter is in display position.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the frame is illustrated as equipped with a foldable appropriately balanced prop which allows the complete structure to be supported on a table or the like somewhat in the nature of an easel.

' In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the complete structure as designed and developed in accordance with the present invention.

, Figure 2 is a view exactly like Figure 1 with the retention panel removed.

Figures 3 and 4=-are sections on the lines 3-8 and 4-4: respectively of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a plan view with portions bro ken away disclosing certain of the parts in the'process of development and construction.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing a further step in the construction of the frame. c

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the pic ture unit.

Figure 8 is a larged sectional view taken approximately on the plane of the line 88 of Figure 1.

ly appreciated by considering the details in fragmentary contracted en- It is believed that the novelty will be clear- 1931. Serial No. 543.691.

the manner in which they are assembled to form the complete structure. I therefore call attention to the numeral 10 which designates abacking board. In actual practice, this is sawed out from a piece of three-ply veneer. In the drawings, it is shown of solid forma-' tion for the sake of clearnes's.

Using a veneered structure makes the I opposite faces smooth and adaptable to accommodate the companion parts in the so complete assembly. This backing board may be of any appropriate configuration to pr0- vide the desired features of ornamentalityj and the remaining parts of the structure will depend, in this case, on the shape selected in the construction of said backing board.

Referring now to Figure 5, it will be observed that the numeral 11 designates a frame which is superimposed upon and glued or otherwise fastened to the marginal portion of the backing board. This part 11 in practice is preferably of heavy binder board V or an appropriate texture of cardboard.

In detail,-the frame llcomprises a top endpiece 12, a bottom end-piece 13, and vertical side pieces 14 and 15. These are of the proportions illustrated in Figure 5 and define a substantially rectangular sight. It is to be observed however th t the side piece 14: is slightly narrow-er than the op posed side piece 15. Then too, at the juncture of the two members 12 and 1 1 and in the corner is a small abutment 16. This functions to define a lateral clearance space or slot 17 whose purpose and function will become clear as the detailed description proceeds. V

Also as shown in Figure 5, there is a second. piece of cardboard 18 glued to the backing board within the limits of the sight of the frame 11. It is to be observed however in Figures 5 and 8 that this filler terminates in spaced relation above the member 13 to form a transversely elongated pocket 19. Incidently, the upper frame member 12 is provided with a segmental riser 20' which serves as an element co-operating with the ornamentation'of the complete frame as will be made evident later.

Superimposed upon and glued to the frame 11 is a facing frame 21. This is also rectangular in configuration and is provided with a sight 23 of an area slightly less than the aforesaid sight of the frame 11. In fact, on the under side this frame 21 is provided with a marginal three-sided head 22 which fits into the sight of the frame 11.

It will be observed however that the bead 22 constitutes an abutment and that the upper left hand corner rests against the shoulder 16. The side portions of this beadterminate substantially flush with the lowerend of the filler 18, as shown in Figure 6. Moreover, the lower frame bar of the frame 21 terminates flush with the corresponding bar 13 of the frame 11 as depicted clearly in Figure 8, thus aiding in providing the desired depth of the aforesaid pocket 19.

By using this selection of proportions of superposed frames, it is evident that the marginal portion of the sight of the frame 21 overhangs three sides of the sight of the frame 11, thus forming confining means for the picture units 24 as seen in Figure 7. This picture unit comprises a glass plate 25 having corner tabs 26 of general triangular configuration so mounted and fashioned as to provide clips for holding the picture 27 removably in place against the back of the glass plate.

The plate is also provided along one marginal edge with a finger gripping tab 28 to facilitate removal of this unit from the frame structure.

I now call attention to the numeral 29 which designates the detachable retaining panel, this panel being proportioned to allow at least one-half of the thickness thereof to fit into the aforesaid pocket 19. The panel comprises an appropriately thickened bar or strip 30 of appropriate material. As seen in Figure 4, the upper intermediate portion of this bar is formed with a groove 31 which functions as a keeper channel for reception of the lower edge portion of the picture unit 24, when the latter is in display position as shown in Figure 8. v 7

At one end of the channel; namely the left hand end in Figure 4 is an abutment 17 which corresponds in alinement with the aforesaid shoulder 16 and forms the lower end of the clearance slot 17, and prevents displacement of the picture unit into said slot when the picture is desired to be located in display position. Incidently the picture unit is of such proportions as to allow it to be slipped over laterally into this clearance slot 17. In other words, the length of the slot 17 coincides with the length of the picture unit.

In Figure 8, the numerals 32 and 33 designate plastic coatings for the frame structure and panel. This coating is preferably plastic clay applied to the exposed surfaces of the panel and frame structure, and this clay is formed into various designs and effects. In

fact, in practice, after the clayed surface has been molded or otherwise worked to the desired texture, the whole of the clayed surface is then shellacked and after the shellac has dried, the trim on the marginal portion is bronzed or guilded, and oil colors applied and the surface finished by brushing with cheesecloth or other similar materials. The entire face is then finished and the surface waxed. This clay finish however is primarily for ornamental purposes, though it aids in securing the desired rigidity in the frame con- 'struction and conceals the superimposed frames on the backing board.

From the foregoing description it is obvious that thebacking board '10 is -appropriately shaped and finished after which the frame 11 is glued in place. 21 glued on theframe'll to define the desired sight forthe picture unit 24-. It is obvious that a marginal portion of the frame 21 overhangs thecorresponding marginal portion of the sight of theframe 11 whereby to provide retaining means for the picture unit.

The picture unit when in display position is dropped down into the keeper channel of the panel 29 as illustrated in Figure 8. l/Vhen in this position and if it is desired to remove the picture unit for changing the picture 27, this is done by catching hold of opposite edges of the frame structure and placing the thumbs against the glass plate 25. Then the entire unit 24 is bodily shifted out of the channel and the up into the clearance space 39 shown in Figure 8.

When it works into this clearance'space it is held against lateral accidental shifting by its abutting against the corner shoulder '16. With the picture unit thus shifted, the panel 29 can be lifted out from the pocket 19. Then the picture unit can he slid down again and shifted over laterally in a direction from right to left in Figure 5 at which time it is shifted into the clearance slot 17. This allows the opposite right hand edge of the picture unit to'slide out from beneath the confining edge of the overhanging frame 21 after which the user can catch hold of the flap 28 and lift the picture unit out for exchanging the picture 27 An analysis of the foregoing description by way of comparison with the drawings will disclose the fact that the picture mounting.

comprises an ornamental backing board, a laminated frame assembly, and ornamental plastic finishing and coating means. In practice, it is of course, not essential to utilize separate frames 11 and 21 for these might be so fashioned as to utilize a single frame. The principal idea-however is that the sight of this double or single frame' structure should be such as to provide a clearance space 39 as shown in Figure8, a clearance space 19 as shown; in the same fig- Then the frame ure to accommodate the slidable pictureunit, as well as the removable panel 29.

Then too, this sight should be such as to provide the lateral clearance slot 17 which facilitates shifting of the picture unit to allow insertion and removal after the panel 29 is removed.

It is thought that the description, taken in connection with the drawings will enable a clear understanding ofthe invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

l/Vhile the preferred embodiment of the invention has been'shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

1. In a picture and frame assembly of the class described, in combination, a picture mounting comprising a backing member formed with ornamental facing means, said facing means being constructed to provide a receptacle for a picture unit, a picture unit located removably in said receptacle, the dimensions of the receptacle being such as to allow relative shifting of the picture unit to facilitate application and removal, and a removable retention element co-operable with the picture unit and one end portion of the receptacle, said element being such as to prevent displacement of the picture unit when the element is in place, and to allow bodily shifting of said unit when said element is removed.

2. In a picture and frame assembly of the class described, a frame structure comprising a backing member, framing means attached to said backing member, and provided with a sight, the marginal portions of the sight being fashioned to provide a clearance space at the top, a clearance space at the bottom, and an additional clearance space on one side, a removable panel adapted for insertion in the clearance space at the bottom, said panel being formed with a groove constituting a keeper channel, and a picture unit adapted to be located in said sight with its lower end portion seated in said channel when the picture unit is in display position, said picture unit being adapted to be shifmd into the upper clearance space to allow removal of the panel, and subsequently shifted into the side clearance space to allow removal of the picture unit.

8. A picture frame construction of the class described comprising a backing board, a frame superimposed upon and attached to the marginal portions of said backing board,

a second frame superimposed upon and secured to the first frame, said frames having their complemental sights proportioned to permit predetermined marginal portions of the second-named frame to overhang corresponding portions of the sight of the firstnamed frame to aid in confining a picturein place, said frame being formed in one corner with a shoulder, and the adjacent side bar of said frame being narrow in comparison to the opposed side bar to define a lateral picture accommodating clearance slot, a filler member attached to the backing board and confined within the limits of the sight of said first-named frame and having its lower end portion terminating in-upwardly spaced relation from the corresponding end member of said first-named frame, whereby to define a clearance space and pocket between the filler and the lower end portions of both of said frames, said pocket being adapted to accommodate a removable picture retaining panel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

' JOHN F. OOATES. 

